Monday, December 31, 2007

I hope that you remember year 2007 as a “Good Year.” If for some reason, Year 2007 isn’t remembered that way, please try to hang in there, “Hunker down ‘til the storm passes by!” Do your best, Try to smile through your tears, and try to find a way to get through the hard times. Unexpected help may be near, and your future may be much brighter.

The following article tells of people that found a way to survive very bad situations. Their futures became brighter..

(A) People are amused with the cartoon: A frog is in the mouth of a long-necked bird while the legs of the frog are choking the bird! “NEVER GIVE UP!” are the words under the picture.Do you remember a time when you were like the frog,---in a hopeless situation but you held on with a grip that was slipping? Many people have survived traumatic events. When they tell their stories they often mention that it was only God’s help that allowed them to have a future. You may be familiar with some of their stories.

(B) For several years Donn Fendler’s picture is on the front page of a Maine newspaper as he makes a summer visit to Maine. He finds people of all ages that enjoy listening to his story. Thousands of people have read the book: LOST ON A MOUNTAIN IN MAINE and have learned that Donn Fendler kept going when he felt all hope was gone. In year 2004, Sixty five years after his ordeal near Mt. Kathadin, Donn appeared to be healthy and happy.

(D) In December, 1862, Colonel Joshua Chamberlain, with the 20th. Maine Regiment, was at the lower parts of Marye’s Heights at Fredricksburg, VA. During one long cold night he watched the northern lights flicker and used dead bodies for protection from the enemy. At that time it may have been difficult for him to imagine his future. However, he was still healthy the next day when he left Fredricksburg with the survivors of his regiment. Six months later he led his troops at the Battle of Gettysburg and won The Congressional Medal Of Honor. During the siege of Petersburg he was severely wounded. Joshua Chamberlain appeared to be on his death bed when he was promoted to the rank of General. He made a remarkable recovery and returned to active duty. The day the American Civil War ended he was at Appomattox, VA, and gave his famous salute to the defeated Confederate troops. In future years he became Governor of the State of Maine and President of Bowdoin College.

(D) Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery found himself with many British and French troops facing annilation by the German Army at Dunkirk in May 1941. A decision by Hitler delayed the advances of the German Armies. Heroic efforts by the British Navy and civilian boatmen from Great Britian rescued “Monte” and most of the troops from the beach and transported them across the English Channel. They lived to fight another day. Five years later Field Marshal Montgomery received the surrender of several German Armies as World War II was ending in Europe. (May 6, 1945.)

(E) People who become famous receive a lot of recognition, however, the heroic efforts of many veterans go unnoticed. Only because he is “family” I heard stories from Glenn Becum of Zephyrhills, Fl. As a young man, Glenn, who had known only warm weather, joined the U.S. Marine Corps. Shortly thereafter, the Korean War began. In November / December1950, Glenn’s Division was surrounded by enemy troops near the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea. Glenn survived the enemy bullets plus the cold weather. At the present time, as a member of the group known as The Chosin Few he tells these stories: “As my unit was trying to escape the enemy, fellow Marines stopped for rest. They sat down, went to sleep, and froze to death in the snow.”--- Speaking of the luxuries of coffee, when available: “The first sip burned my lips, the second sip was good, and I would have to gulp the rest of the liquid before it turned to ice.” Glenn ends his stories with the words: “God allowed me to survive that ordeal.”(F) In the future all of us may encounter a situation that appears to be hopeless. Never give up! Try to hang in there for: another minute; another day; another year. Conditions may get better. Remember during those times and at all times; “God Loves You.”

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Before I was conceived people in Europe and Asia saw the storm clouds gathering. It was less than twenty years after the War To End All Wars. The leaders of Japan; Germany; and Italy were restless and brutal. The atrocities they inflicted on people are unimaginable. Then on September 1, 1939, “The Storm” began and people in almost all parts of the world were affected by it. He Storm” lasted for more than six years.

My earliest memories are hearing about the war, without knowing what a war was all about. However at that time I knew that it made people hurt and they died. My parents wouldn’t let me forget that as a little boy, whenever I heard that a person my family knew was going in the service (“off to war”) I would go under the table, be quiet and cry.Besides Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic, during my first three years of school The most talked about item was World War II. Before school and after lunch hour we sang Patriotic songs and war songs: Do you remember them?

There’s a Star Spangled Banner Waving SomewherePraise the Lord and Pass the ammunitionComing in on a wing and a prayer.Battle Hymn of The RepublicGod Bless America

The most memorable Christmas of my life was in 1944; during “The Storm:” That was the year at age seven, when I took the axe and went alone into the woods behind my home and cut the Christmas tree. The one I cut matched the size of the tree that three of my classmates and I mentioned when we told our anticipations. We were all going to have a very large tree at our homes. After dragging it to the house I discovered it was too large to get into the little house where we lived. The day before Christmas my mother cut more than six feet off the bottom of the tree and put the tree top on the table by the window. The tree was decorated with small shiny balls of red, green, blue, and gold. Some strings of white popcorn made during a Christmas season of another year were a continuous chain from branch to branch. With the popcorn in place many strips of tinsel were placed on the tree. The tinsel shivered and danced every time someone moved in the house.

Christmas morning I found my stocking with my name on it filled with an orange, apple, a package of dates, A little bag of Christmas candy, and some peanuts in the shell. I also received an envelope with $2.00 in it from my Grandmother. I was happy when I opened the envelope because I knew I would have enough money to buy War Bond Stamps and fill the stamp book. For two years I had been trying to fill that book knowing that in ten years I would be able to cash the war bond and receive $25.00. NOTES: (Ten years later, at college, how I needed that $25.00! (2) An ad I saw in a newspaper that year I have remembered all of my life; There was a picture displaying a Christmas scene. Under the picture were the words: “So there will always be a Christmas; BUY WAR BONDS.

The ad may have been affective selling War Bonds but I learned from the Bible (Matthew Chapter 2) that it takes more than leaders of a country and a World War to eliminate Christ and Christmas. Ever since the three Wise men were sent on their mission to find the Christ child so King Herod could kill him, until the present day, people from all countries have been unsuccessful in destroying Christ and keeping Christ out of Christmas.

Christmas Day 1944 passed all too quickly. My family was happy. Some relatives and friends dropped by our home and my family enjoyed a big Christmas dinner. Some time after 9 o’clock in the evening I found myself alone as much as a person could be under our families living conditions. I was sitting in the rocking chair beside the wood stove. The only light in the house was a flickering kerosene lamp on the shelf beside the stove, but all of the little reflections of the light were dancing in the Christmas tree decorations. I was softly crying,---not because I was disappointed with that wonderful Christmas Day, but because I knew it would be a year before I would again experience such happiness.

Before the next Christmas, World War II had ended,. Several years later I heard the band Leader; Guy Lombardo, being interviewed. He was asked if there was one special New Year’s Eve he remembered. Without any hesitation he said: “New Year’s Eve 1945.” That evening where his band was playing there was nothing like the overwhelming happiness that he witnessed..

After every big storm there is destruction caused from the storm that is very evident. Sixty years after World War II scars from that war are still very evident. Most of us know or have known World War II veterans that displayed those scars. Two memorable veterans I must mention:

Soon after moving from our little house in 1948, I met Chester “Bruce” Quinn for the first time. Almost every day he was a customer in my parent’s store. Bruce moved very slowly, would say the grocery item he needed, then lean on the candy counter with a far away look in his eye. One day I heard him say “shrapnel,” point to his head and indicate that he had a silver plate in that area. I became good friends with Bruce and his family and watched Bruce as he slowly improved from his injuries. It was wonderful to see the grandson of Bruce: John Francis, Jr., with a smile on his face, talking a lot and being the spark plug on a very good high school basketball team. More than fifty years after the war Bruce and I were digging clams each day near the same area of East Bay, Perry, Maine. Recently Bruce Quinn had a write up in the local newspapers when he received a medal from the Government of France for helping to liberate France during World War II.

In Portland, Maine during the late 1960’s ,while doing training runs for the Boston Marathon and other races, I met Richard Goodie. We talked as we jogged. I listened intently to many of his stories.“Dick” being more than ten years older than myself, has never forgotten Christmas 1944. That Christmas was much different for him than it was for me. Dick was with the 3rd Armored Division, about 40 kilometers from Bastonge during the Battle of The Bulge. For more than 30 nights his bed was in a bedroll, in the snow. Conditions were not good. Dick has written books and several stories about World War II, and running. Also about members of his World War II unit returning to cities in France 50 years after liberating those towns and cities. A few years ago Richard Goodie was inducted into the Maine Running Hall of Fame.

The “Storms” pass by, leaving memories that last a long time.

Note: Check out: War Stories By Dick Goodie on the Internet.

By: Dale C. LincolnPerry, MaineInZephyrhills, FloridaDec. 21, 2007.

ERROR CORRECTED: The first draft of this story, found on Skillin’s Garden Log, I made an error stating that Richard Goodie, was with the group “The Battered Bastards of Bastonge (101 Airborne Division) during the Battle of the Bulge. At that time Richard Goodie was about 40 kilometers away from Bastonge with the 3rd Armored Division.Must say: “I’m sorry to the readers of Skillin’s Garden Log and especially to my friend, Richard Goodie, for that error.Sincerely;Dale C. Lincoln

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Each year Terry Skillin prepares a list of questions and facts for the Skillin's staff to know during the Christmas Holiday season. We thought we would pass these questions and answers onto you as they are quite informative and hopefully will be helpful to you.

Let us know if YOU have any questions!

1) How long can a live tree remain in the house?ANSWER Because the tree is in a dormant stage it can remain indoors 3 to 5 days

2) What options are there for a living Christmas Tree?ANSWER The most traditional are Balsam Fir, Dwf. Alberia Spruce, Green & Blue Spruce, and for a year round tree Norfolk Island Pine.

3) Which cut tree last the longest?ANSWER They will all last through the season providing you give them a fresh cut before placing them into their stand and are never allowed to run out of water.

4) How should a cut tree be prepared?ANSWER When the tree arrives home and is ready to be put up, cut 2” from the bottom of the trunk. Then place the tree straight into the stand and fill with water. Add a tree preservative into the water and every time you need to add water to the stand. Check the water level twice a day and always maintain the highest possible level.

5) How many lights are needed to light a tree?ANSWER Mini lights require 50 lights per foot of tree height, and the larger lights require 15 lights per foot of tree.5a) What are my options if my set of lights go out? ANSWER First check that all bulbs are secure. Use a bulb tester (sold here at Skillin’s) to pin point which bulb has blown. Also check fuses that are located in the wall plug end.5b)LED lights are the newest and most energy efficient Christmas lights available.

6) How do you care for a Poinsettia? ANSWER Place Poinsettia in bright light, keep from draft, water when soil is dry but not to a wilt. Do not allow Poinsettias to sit in water, decorative foil on the container may hold water so remember to check this and remove any excess water. Poinsettias are NOT poisonous!

7) How many pounds of firdoes it take to make a 18” wreath (12” ring)? ANSWER 10 to 15 pounds. For window boxes it takes approximately 2 pound for every foot of window box length.

8) How many feet of garland does it take to wrap a 6’ pole? ANSWER 10 feet

9) Which garland lasts the longest indoors? ANSWER Laurel is the longest lasting fresh garland. Silk or artificial garland should be used in areas that need a traditional look and can not easily be replace as needed during the holiday season

10) How do you keep holly and mistletoe? ANSWER Keep holly cool and misted, replace as needed. Do not use fresh holly outdoors it will freeze. Mistletoe will remain fresh if kept cool, it will also dry nicely holding it’s leaves and berries. All PARTS OF MISTLETOE ARE POISONOUS

11) How much Boxwood is needed to create a fresh 12” Boxwood tree? ANSWER 3 pounds. If the boxwood tree is kept watered in can look great through ValentinesDay.

12) Is Skillins Greenhouses having an after Christmas Sale? ANSWER Yes.

13) Does Skillins Greenhouses mail order wreaths? ANSWER Yes, we have a State of Maine Wreath decorated for $34.99 shipped anywhere in the continental United States. Check out our web site at www.skillins.com for this and other choices of wreath and great gift ideas.

14) Does Skillins Greenhouses deliver Christmas trees? ANSWER Yes for a 8’ tree and under local delivery charges apply. Trees 9’ and over $30.00. We will also set up your tree into your stand in the house for $30.00 for trees up to 9’. Larger trees $30.00 per hour, per person plus materials. Skillin’s will also pick up your tree after Christmas local delivery charges apply. Skillin’s will recycle your tree for free.

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

*The key is making sure your tree stays watered. So, before you set up your Christmas tree, make a fresh, straight cut across the base of the trunk (about a quarter inch up from the original cut) and place the tree in a tree stand that holds a gallon of water. A tree will absorb as much as a gallon of water in the first 24 hours, plus one or more quarts during the first week.

*Be sure to keep the tree stand filled with water. A seal of dried sap will form over the cut stump in four to six hours if the water drops below the base of the tree and will prevent the tree from absorbing water. If a seal forms, make another fresh cut to the base of the trees stump.

*For safety, the best way to keep a tree fresh and fire resistant is to keep it supplied with water at all times. As long as the tree takes up water, it will be relatively fire resistant.

*Do not decorate the tree with cotton, paper or any other materials that are flammable. Wax candles and other types of open flame should be avoided.

*Lights and wiring should be checked for worn spots and cracks before hanging them on the tree. Never overload your electrical outlets. Use only UL-approved Christmas lights and nonflammable decorations. Be sure to always unplug the Christmas lights before you go to bed or leave the house. Here at Skillin's we are offering for sale many varieties of the economically friendly LED Christmas lights. LED (light emitting diode) lights cost a little more BUT they use only about 10 to 20% of the electricity of regular Christmas lights (sock that carbon footprint!) and also have a considerably longer life expectancy.

We sell fresh Maine grown trees right here at Skillin's. We grow quite a few of our own and the rest are grown by some long-time Maine growers who we have come to know and trust over the years.

You may ask is buying a cut Christmas tree a "good thing" for the environment. Check out our Maine Christmas Tree posting of November 12 to see why we believe buying a locally cut Christmas tree is in fact good for our environment.

Another "tip" I just thought of. Prepare for your tree's removal by buying a Tree Removal Bag here at Skillin's. Put it down on the floor under the tree just before you set your tree stand and tree up. Later, when it is time to remove the tree simply pull the big bag up over the tree and haul the tree package out the door. Very few needles will escape!

If your town does not have a tree pickup, bring the tree back to Skillin's and we will compost the tree for you. Your tree will become part of a compost heap that will be new precious soil in just a short amount of time! How environmentally cool is that? For a minimal charge we will also pick your tree up for you if you need!

The folks at www.gardenplace.com also remind us that now winter is a fine time to try some indoor gardening:

Just because it's winter doesn't mean you stop planting. Gardeners can keep plenty busy by nurturing plants on window sills inside the house. But, for best results you need to match each plant with the right conditions:

South-facing windows, which get the most sun, suit plants such as cacti, trailing begonias, geraniums and ivy.

East and west windows get a moderate amount of light and are ideal for plants like cyclamen, cute bulb plants like hyacinth and daffodils and African violets.

Finally, remember to clean the old wet food out of your bird feeders and replace that food with some nice dry fresh food for our feathered friends. Birds hate wet seed and wet seed can harbor salmonella and other diseases that are not good for the birds!

Our good friend Dale Lincoln has checked in with another great tale; Dale is a native of Down East Maine and is a special friend to the many folks who have come to know him. He is currently making the winter days pass by quickly for the residents of Zephyrhills, Florida with his wife Elsie and looks forward to the Spring when he and Elsie plan to return to Perry, Maine for the summer.

Dale spent two years with us at Skillin's and we will always be thankful for that time.

He has also posted a tale of Two Thanksgivings which can also be found here at the Skillin's Garden Log. Thank you Dale for your contributions!

THE STORMS PASS BY

Heavy clouds were overhead, a mist was in the air, and a warm breeze was blowing from the South as I walked the peninsula behind my home. It was Monday morning, September 23. Summer 2002 had officially ended a few hours earlier. Even though summer was over, friends “from away” would be visiting my home in a few days. My goal for the morning was to dig clams for the planned lobster / clam dinner on Thursday evening. While hiking to the seashore my footsteps were lively. The accumulated aches in my body from the recent blueberry harvest season had vanished a few days earlier. In warm weather a clam digging adventure is often accompanied with a feeling of freedom and happiness. Upon my arrival at the seashore two black ducks that were feeding at the edge of the incoming tide saw me. They gave their familiar “quack” as they started their flight to another feeding area. At that same moment I was maneuvering my feet, which were encased in hip boots, around the remnants of a large poplar tree. The tree had crashed to the ground during the severe thunder and lightening storm on the morning of July 2, 2002. If people near the area of Sipps Bay have forgotten that little storm, my friends in Somerville, NJ still remember it. Ralph and Hilda (Richard) Caruso, MMA’57E with their camper trailer, had arrived at Knowlton’s Seashore Campground the previous afternoon. The four-hour electrical storm started welcoming them to Perry about 3:00 AM. At our home that same morning, less than one mile away from Knowlton’s campground, Elsie and I noticed the worst thunder and lightening storm we had witnessed during the thirty-one years of living in our house. We knew that the heavenly fireworks and heavy rain was being noticed by Hilda, Ralph, and the other campers. (NOTE: Ralph Caruso from Millinocket, Maine, and I were classmates in college. The previous week we had attended our 45th year class reunion at the Maine Maritime Academy. His wife Hilda (Richard) Caruso also enjoys returning to Downeast Maine. Her family once lived in Calais and she attended school in Calais during the 1950’s. Her Dad, Rev. Clayton E. Richard, was Pastor of the Calais Congregational Church. Hilda tells the story that her father “never” went to the movies, but one evening at Calais in 1957 he saw the top-rated movie of the year: “The Ten Commandments.” By coincidence, the same night that Rev. Richard saw the movie, was the same night that the Calais Theatre burned to the ground!) It must be mentioned that before leaving home I checked the TV weather map which showed the location of hurricane ISIDORE in the Gulf of Mexico. The Meteorologists were not sure of the direction that ISIDORE would travel but the storm was beginning to churn the water in the Gulf of Mexico. “Heavy seas were beginning to reach Galveston, Texas.” It is common for people to have “representatives” in countries, states, cities, and towns, around the world. They are simply our family members and other friends. Whenever the TV weather (or news ) centers upon a certain area, our first thoughts and prayers are for the safety and well being of our representatives.” For the past decade the representative in Galveston, Texas for my family and friends is Marine (Ship’s) Pilot, Ms. Wendy L. Morrison (formerly of Perry.) MMA “85 D. After walking across the soft mud of the clam flats and starting to dig clams I began thinking about Wendy Morrison and her career. She was not the first woman to be employed aboard U.S. Merchant Ships but she is certainly one of the pioneers. Wendy found the courage and went through the obstacles associated with women not being welcome to work aboard ships. During my days as an officer in the U.S. Merchant Marine I met elderly captains and other shipmates that “knew for sure” that it would bring bad luck if a woman came aboard their ship! With that knowledge I often imagine the hidden emotions between some old Captain and a ship’s pilot in this situation: “About 2:00 am in the stormy waters near Galveston, Texas, a very small boat arrives beside a very large vessel. A petit young lady stands on the deck of the small vessel, grabs a rope (Jacobs) ladder, times her jump with the waves, leaves the little boat, and climbs the straight side of the large vessel. After arriving on the main deck ,Wendy walks to the bridge and meets the Captain. The Captain then gives her control of guiding “his” 800 ft. ship through the channel and directing the operation of securing it to the pier.” While continuing to dig clams I started thinking about storms and hurricanes. Hurricanes have caused destruction to many communities plus death and injuries to many people. Through the years unexpected wind storms have caused many problems in Downeast Maine, However, the tropical hurricanes that have traveled up the coast have been relatively kind to us and few in number. There are people reading this article that will remember the Great New England Hurricane of September 21,1938. I was too young to remember that storm. My most remembered hurricanes: CAROL and EDNA were only ten days apart. They caused severe damage in Connecticut and Rhode Island. People along the Maine Coast felt the effect of the high winds, waves, and heavy rain. The year they arrived was 1954. I was a Freshman at college and prior to the storms I was of the work details that tried to secure the equipment in the dock area at Castine, Maine. Because my feet remained on dry ground and the area where I was located received very little damage, CAROL and EDNA did not create any bad memories for me. However, two of my Perry friends remember Hurricane CAROL in a different way. H.Richard (Dick) Adams and Maynard Morrison were both new in the U.S. Coast Guard and stationed at Southwest Harbor. I knew that heavy seas associated with CAROL had received their attention. Very soon after returning from clamming I made phone calls to Dick and Maynard. They easily recalled their duty assignment which involved rescue missions during Hurricane CAROL. “Dick” Adams was an Engineman aboard a 64 ft. Tug boat. Maynard Morrison was a deck hand on a 36- foot, twin engine, rescue boat. Both vessels encountered heavy weather. To summarize one event: The Coast Guard station at Southwest Harbor received a call to assist “The SUNBEAM,” a boat owned by the Seacoast Mission at Seal Harbor,. The SUNBEAM, which provided transportation and enabled church services to be held on some of the islands, was adrift in the heavy seas. When the Coast Guard vessels were near The SUNBEAM, the small rescue vessel that had better maneuverability, went close to the drifting boat and attached a tow line. Immediately after the line was attached one of the engine coverings on the rescue boat became loose. That engine died when it received a slug of green water! Maynard and the rest of the crew experienced some frightening moments. Fortunately, all ended well because the tug was able to assist both vessels. Hurricane CAROL created memories which have lasted almost 50 years. Before ending the phone conversation with Maynard Morrison I asked him if he thought that his daughter, Wendy, was noticing the movement of Hurricane ISIDORE in the Gulf of Mexico. He said that he had talked with her only a few hours earlier. She said that the seas around Galveston were getting rough and her work schedule placed her as a Pilot on duty at Galveston, Texas, for the next two weeks! (“We wish you smooth sailing, Wendy.”) Through our path of life we encounter a variety of “storms.” Some storms are so small that only one person may notice it. Other storms are so large and reach so many people that they are given a permanent name. Some survivors of many storms have prayed to God before and during the storm. They can easily relate to the words of the Hymn: ‘Til The Storm Passes By: Written by Mosie Lister: (1958)

In the dark of the midnight have I of’t hid my face, While the storm howls above me, and there’s no hiding place, Mid the crash of the thunder, precious Lord hear my cry, Keep me safe ‘til the storm passes by. (Chorus) ‘Til the storm passes over, ‘Til the thunder sounds no more, ‘Til the clouds roll forever from the sky, Hold me fast, Let me stand, In the hollow of Thy hand, Keep me safe ‘til the storm passes by. After surviving the storm we should all thank the Lord, tell the memories, and …Share The Snickers!

Saturday, December 1, 2007

Good birding friend Liz Cardinale checks in with some timely reminders:

*If you can, please provide a water source for your feathered friends. Freezing temperatures cause many wild water sources to be frozen over and unavailable. Bird bath deicers are simple and easy to use and also are not a serious electical drain. You merely plug them into an outside electric source and "plop" them into your bird bath. A bird bath deicer runs just enough to keep the water fluid and fluid water is invaluable to the birds right now.

Also, if you can change your water out daily. The water beneficial as it is, can hold disease on occasion (birds tend to use the bird baths as a lavatory) but merely changing the water as often as you can should take care of any problems.

*Now is an awesome time to be feeding your birds suet. Birds need to "lard up" a little for the cold winter ahead and suet is perfect for the job.

*It is very important to keep the bird seed in your feeders dry. Mondays storm could bring quite a bit of snow; get that snow off your feeders and the wet food out as quickly as you can so the bird food does not get moldy. Birds hate wet food and moldy food is not good for anyone!